Bespoke planters in block,plaster and painted white to complement the existing mediterranean style of the garden, to be built adjunct to the tall boundary walls, and continuing the design of the wall planter adjacent to and above the steps descending alongside the main building, which faces towards the sea.
The top terrace behind and above the house,with the hot tub, will have a rectangular planter 90 cms high and wide between the tub and the wall. The length of the planter is equal to the width of the terrace in this part of the garden.The internal base of it will be at ground level,placed on top of the existing paving.
The planters for the lower lawn terrace will have staggered levels to match the tops of the boundary wall as it descends. These planters will appear much taller,to match the dimensions of the wall, and reflecting the lower ground level of this terrace- whilst creating a visual continuity with the top terrace.
This large planter will be built up inside it’s walls, from the ground base on this sloping site , to create a flat, level and even depth within the planter for ease and economy of filling with growing medium, and planting.
Both planters will be lined with pond liner but will also have drainage holes served by copper tubes appearing in a horizontal line on the exteriors, about 20 cms above the base of each of the planters, allowing drainage in very wet Cornish winters, with some root level water retention for thirsty bamboos.Practical and aesthetically pleasing.
Both planters will be filled with locally sourced green waste compost,and planted with mature large bamboos gifted by a friend, to create natural screening from next door which is essentially above and to the right, looking down into the Harvey’s garden.
The bamboo is perfectly suitable for this extreme environment, with wind, salt and sun. The clients have been advised about watering,feeding, pruning and general maintenance.
The structure of the planters with a closed base, and lined with heavy durable plastic pond liner, is intentionally designed to contain the aggressively spreading bamboo from invading the owners and neighbour’s gardens.
It will also create a defined sculptural look for the space, enhancing the plants and style, as well as minimising maintenance.
We are developing plans for 3 new semi circular beds to expand the scope of the ‘in ground’ planter-which, when viewed from the house, appears atop the wall abutting the patio immediately behind the house. The extension and curved shapes will be cut into the lawn of the lower terrace, of which the planter currently edges as a border.
This planting area is filled with phormiums, furcreas, osteospermums,agapanthus, yucca and yellow flowered euryops, from Phase 1.
The clients wish for additional structural, very hardy plants to enhance their view and garden style, now that their children are growing and no longer use the large trampoline that occupied this space.
The new curved border extensions will create a classically styled garden effect in the lawn area, and will be planted with cordylines, trachycarpus, chamaerops,hardy ornamental grasses and flowering plants for a subtropical feel, that will survive the conditions.
Although this area has a more sheltered microclimate than the top terrace and the sides of the house, it can still suffer from wind, salt and sun.
A Phoenix canariensis (Date Palm) will be planted into a far corner of the lawn as a visual feature- not only superb to look at from the dining area, but also to create screening from other neighbours above and behind the property, whilst equally obscuring the view of a shed from the house.
Low maintenance is required, as the clients are fully occupied with their family and businesses, and are not experienced gardeners.
The clients are arranging the structural works with their own builders to my designs, and will follow my advised plant list sourcing the plants themselves from nearby expert nurseries in West Cornwall that I have recommended to them.
